2020 Presidential Campaign Blog

What People Are Saying About Pete Buttigieg’s Start At Tonight’s South Carolina Debate

What People Are Saying About Pete Buttigieg’s Strong Start At Tonight’s Debate

“Oh my, Buttigieg is so good” … “Buttigieg with another good answer” … “Pete Buttigieg is right” … “Strong answer from Pete Buttigieg. And he’s right” … “Mayor Pete reminds the candidates that it’s not just the Presidency that needs addressing, but also the House and Senate.” … “Great answer by Mayor Pete” … “Pete Buttigieg has the best temperament to debate Donald Trump” … “So far tonight Pete Buttigieg quite effective” … “Pete Buttigieg calls to stop and frisk ‘racist’ and points out something that is likely frustrating many black voters watching”

Josh Kraushaar @HotlineJosh: Buttigieg with the strongest opener of the first four.

Erin Pelton @erin_pelton: Great answer by Mayor Pete especially as the rest keep sniping at each other. #DemDebate

SC Representative JA Moore @jamooreforsc15: .@PeteButtigieg is right. Nobody on that stage has lived the experience of being black in America. I support him because he understands the importance of listening and learning from people like myself. #DemDebate

Frank Luntz @FrankLuntz: .@PeteButtigieg is right – moderates are why the Democratic Party won back the House in 2018. @JusticeDems flipped exactly zero red seats to blue.

Paul Rieckhoff @PaulRieckhoff: Strong answer from @PeteButtigieg. And he’s right. Sanders vs #PresidentMayhem would be brutal, divisive and chaotic. And very bad for America. #OurEnemiesAreCelebrating the prospect. We, the independents of America especially, say hell no.

BET @BET: Mayor Pete reminds the candidates that it’s not just the Presidency that needs addressing, but also the House and Senate. #DemDebate #ReclaimYourVote

Guy Benson @guypbenson: Buttigieg correct that Russians want chaos & that Trump vs. Bernie would be stunningly and relentlessly divisive. #DemDebate

Tom Nichols @RadioFreeTom: OK, that appeal to the billionaires from Pete made me chuckle, that was a good moment.

John McCormick @McCormickJohn: "I will raise your taxes," @PeteButtigieg says to billionaires who may be watching

Doug Sovern @SovernNation: Relatable approach by #PeteButtigieg: do the American people want to spend the rest of #2020 seeing nothing but #BernieSanders vs #DonaldTrump? Knowing laughs from audience at #DemDebate

Stuart Rothenberg @StuPolitics: Buttigieg with another good answer.

Maria Shriver @mariashriver: Smart of Mayor @PeteButtigieg to point out irony that all candidates on the stage are white, while talking about racial justice. #demdebate

BlackWomenViews @blackwomenviews Pete had a good answer acknowledging that he is on entirely vvhite stage and vvhite privilege. #DemDebate

National Action Network @NationalAction: Pete Buttigieg calls to stop and frisk “racist” and points out something that is likely frustrating many black voters watching tonight. #DemDebate #bhmpolicywatch

Mike Signer @MikeSigner: What folks are seeing from @PeteButtigieg so far in this debate is the secret sauce of his extraordinary year-long campaign: honesty, thoughtfulness, self-reflection, executive experience, compassion, and moral seriousness. This is why he holds his own and builds and wins.

Equality California @eqca: THANK YOU, Mayor Pete for acknowledging that working toward racial justice means 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 to those with the lived experiences of discrimination, hate and racism. #DemDebate

Stuart Rothenberg @StuPolitics: Oh my, Buttigieg is so good.

LGBTQ Victory Fund @VictoryFund: "None of us have the experience - the lived experienced - of walking down the street or in a mall and feeling eyes on us because they think we're dangerous." - @PeteButtigieg #DemDebate (this is what listening and learning looks like

Ed O’Keefe @edokeefe: So far tonight @PeteButtigieg quite effective on 2 points: Expressing humility and lack of personal experience with being a minority (will it shore up Black support?) and laying bare the practical political risk of nominating Sanders by invoking the House Democratic freshmen.

Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader, CT @senatorduff: Thank you @PeteButtigieg
for talking about keeping the House and taking back the U.S. Senate. We need a Democratic nominee who will unite this country and elect Democrats up and down the ballot. @PeteForAmerica #DemDebate #DemDebate2020 #democraticdebates

Jon Soltz @jonsoltz: Pete Buttigieg has the best temperament to debate Donald Trump. Voters need to make it happen on Super Tuesday! #DemDebate

Amy Klobuchar to Campaign in South Carolina on Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Amy Klobuchar to Campaign in South Carolina on Wednesday, February 26, 2020

CHARLESTON, SC — With the South Carolina primary less than a week away, Senator Amy Klobuchar will campaign in the Palmetto State.

Wednesday, February 26

National Action Network Breakfast -- Amy scheduled to deliver remarks at 8:50 AM
Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church
7396 Rivers Ave
North Charleston, SC

Amy for America Charleston Event -- 12:00 PM
Founders Hall
1500 Old Towne Road
Charleston, SC https://www.mobilize.us/amyklobuchar/event/249175/

DNC & CBS Announces Candidates Participating in Tenth Democratic Presidential Primary Debate

DNC & CBS Announces Candidates Participating in Tenth Democratic Presidential Primary Debate 

Today, the DNC and CBS News announced that seven candidates have been invited to participate in the tenth Democratic presidential primary debate. Each candidate was invited based on the qualification criteria agreed to by the DNC and CBS News. The debate will take place tonight in Charleston, South Carolina.

Based on the qualification criteria agreed to by the DNC and CBS News, and announced in February 2020, the following candidates have been invited to participate in the tenth primary debate:

Vice President Joe Biden

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Mr. Tom Steyer

Sen. Elizabeth Warren 

The State Endorses Pete Buttigieg in the South Carolina Democratic Party Primary

The State Endorses Pete Buttigieg in the South Carolina Democratic Party Primary

COLUMBIA, SC — Tonight, Pete Buttigieg received the endorsement from one of South Carolina’s largest statewide newspapers, The State. The editorial board touted Pete as the candidate best positioned to defeat Donald Trump by bringing the nation together to meet our greatest challenges.

Read their endorsement below: https://www.thestate.com/opinion/article240519821.html

The Democratic Party’s presidential nominee will face a formidable general election opponent in Republican President Donald Trump, an incumbent armed with a strong economic record and a force of personality that has spawned a fiercely loyal base of supporters.

It is vital, then, for the Democrats to nominate an energetic, disciplined candidate who can offer voters a powerful yet pragmatic vision of a better America. The Democrats need a nominee who seeks to bring Americans together based on broad common ground — and not divide them along narrow interests.

Among the Democratic presidential candidates, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg is the best person to meet these challenges.

On Saturday, the voters of South Carolina should choose Buttigieg in the state’s Democratic presidential primary.

An outsider’s appeal

History does not lie.

During the last half-century, the Democratic Party has only won the presidency when it has resisted the temptation to pick status-quo nominees and shown the courage to choose centrist outsiders with fresh, optimistic messages.

Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama prevailed in part because they understood the values of real-world America. All three successfully connected with voters by tapping into the sensibilities of average Americans.

Buttigieg has gained that needed perspective during his eight years leading South Bend, a Midwestern city that had to reinvent itself and cast aside a Rust Belt image. And Buttigieg’s policies also reflect that essential connection to everyday Americans.

On health care, for example, Buttigieg’s “ Medicare for all who want it” plan would offer Americans access to a public option without eliminating the private insurance plans so many citizens now have. In fact, Buttigieg’s proposal could drive down the cost of those plans by promoting competition among private insurers.

That’s preferable to demanding a radical overhaul of our health care system — an unrealistic idea that’s been advanced by politicians who spend most of their time inside the insular Washington bubble. And it exemplifies Buttigieg’s ability to see a crucial issue through the eyes of Americans who simply want practical policies, not upheaval and unknowns.

A message of unity

While Buttigieg is only 38, he has a wide range of relevant experience — he’s a Rhodes Scholar who served as a military intelligence officer in Afghanistan — that has shaped the most compelling theme of his campaign: it is time for America and Americans to embrace unity and reject division.

“We’re in a moment where our country is hurting for experiences we have in common,” Buttigieg told The State.

Buttigieg’s message of unity is an inspiring and empowering one, and it deserves to be supported.

Earning minority support

Clearly the biggest challenge Buttigieg faces as a candidate is developing support among African American voters across South Carolina and the entire country.

Buttigieg did earn the backing of many African Americans as South Bend’s mayor. But he also had a complicated relationship with that city’s African American community, and tensions flared last summer when a black man was fatally shot by a South Bend police officer.

To his credit Buttigieg has openly acknowledged his responsibility to build trust with African American voters. He has made important strides by releasing ambitious proposals aimed at increasing economic prosperity among African Americans, strengthening historically black colleges and universities and implementing extensive criminal justice reforms.

Too often Buttigieg’s critics have ignored his substantive efforts to earn the support of black voters, and Buttigieg’s appeals to African Americans should be judged by this standard: Is his outreach genuine, and is it being undertaken in good faith?

We believe that it is.

Making history

Buttigieg could make history as the first openly gay nominee of a major party, and some wonder whether he could win in a solidly red state such as South Carolina. But why is there such skepticism?

The reality is that Buttigieg’s policy centrism is more important than his personal life. Indeed, Buttigieg put it well when he told The State that the American people understand that the 2020 election “is not about my life — it’s about (their lives). If I have the right answers to how I can make your life better, all of the other stuff fades away.”

He’s right.

At this perilous moment in politics, South Carolina voters should be focused on finding a candidate whose policy proposals are a good fit for the state; by that measure, Buttigieg’s aspirational yet realistic plans are the best match for South Carolina.

The other candidates

Our endorsement comes at the end of a long process that saw The State interview Buttigieg and eight other Democratic presidential candidates: former Vice President Joe Biden, former U.S. housing secretary Julian Castro, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, businessman Tom Steyer and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Castro, Booker, Yang and Patrick have since suspended their campaigns.

During the multiple months of interviewing candidates, The State made repeated attempts to schedule a meeting with Sen. Bernie Sanders. Despite those extensive efforts, Sanders would not agree to participate in an interview.

We did not interview another major candidate, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, because he is not on the South Carolina primary ballot.

Buttigieg gets our nod over Klobuchar and Biden, who were both impressive in their interviews.

Klobuchar did a superb job of citing her accomplished record as a Minnesota senator who has reached across the aisle in Washington — and she made a forceful case that the Democrats must nominate someone who can actually get things done as president.

But Buttigieg separated himself from the pack by effectively making the case that he can unify and lead a diverse Democratic Party in the midst of a pitched ideological battle between its liberal and centrist wings.

On Saturday, South Carolina voters should enthusiastically vote for Buttigieg in the Democratic primary.

Amy Klobuchar To Speak at ‘First In The South’ Dinner in Charleston, South Carolina on Monday, February 24, 2020

Senator Amy Klobuchar To Speak at ‘First In The South’ Dinner in Charleston, South Carolina

CHARLESTON, SC — On Monday, Senator Amy Klobuchar will return to South Carolina to speak at the South Carolina State Democratic Party’s “First In The South” dinner, where she will share her optimistic economic agenda and plans to build a strong coalition to win big in 2020.

Monday, February 24

SCDP First in the South Dinner -- Amy to deliver remarks roughly at 9:05 PM ET
Charleston Marriott
170 Lockwood Dr
Charleston, SC 29403

Tulsi Gabbard Campaign Returns to South Carolina on February 28 2020

Tulsi Gabbard Campaign Returns to South Carolina on February 28 2020

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard (U.S. Rep, Hawaii) will be returning to South Carolina on Friday to host a town hall in Charleston.

At the town hall, Tulsi will continue to share her vision for ending our engagement in costly regime change wars, the new Cold War and arms race, and investing US resources in serving the needs of the American people.

Public Schedule for Friday, February 28, 2020

Charleston Town Hall
7:00 - 9:00 pm EST
Faith in Action Kingdom Ministries
2730 Gordon St.
Charleston, SC 29405

Orangeburg South Carolina Elected Officials Endorse Joe Biden

Orangeburg South Carolina Elected Officials Endorse Joe Biden 

With less than one week until South Carolina’s “First in the South” primary, Biden for President announced the endorsements of eleven Orangeburg elected officials, including Mayor Michael Butler, State Senator John Matthews, State Senator Brad Hutto, the Orangeburg County Democratic Party’s longtime former chair Betty Henderson, and current chair Kenneth Glover.

“The next president will inherit a world in disarray. And when you look at all the candidates in the race, there is only one with the experience to right the ship and lead this country forward, and that’s Joe Biden,” said Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler. “Joe spearheaded landmark legislation as a United States senator and represented our country with dignity and respect on the world stage as Barack Obama’s vice president. Now more than ever, we need his deep experience across the board — foreign policy, passing health care reform, banning assault weapons, and more.”

“Joe Biden believes that America’s best days are ahead, and I do too. I know that Joe can unite this country and step into the Oval Office on day one and undo the damage Trump has done,” said former longtime Orangeburg County Chair Betty Henderson. “Joe has a bold vision that will not only restore our standing in the world, but make substantial progress on the issues that matter most to South Carolinians, like building on Obamacare and boosting access to health care in rural communities.”

“I am proud to endorse Joe Biden for President of the United States and to fight with his campaign for the soul of the nation. We’re at a critical moment and must restore respected and trusted leadership at home and abroad,” said Orangeburg Party Chair Kenny Glover. “Over decades in the U.S. Senate and eight years as vice president, Joe has proven his ability to lead with experience, respect, and honor. He has championed some of the most monumental legislation this county has seen, including the Affordable Care Act. It’s because of that, that I know Joe Biden can deliver and make his plans a reality for the American people.”

Today’s new endorsements include:

State Senator John Matthews, Orangeburg 

State Senator Brad Hutto, Orangeburg

Betty Henderson, Former Orangeburg County Party Chair

Kenneth Glover, Orangeburg Party Chair

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler

Orangeburg County Councilman Johnnie Wright

Orangeburg County Councilman Johnny Ravenell

Orangeburg Sheriff Leroy Ravenell

Orangeburg Clerk Of Court Winnifa Clark

Orangeburg County Auditor Audrey Asbury

Orangeburg County Coroner Samuetta Marshall

Today’s new slate of supporters brings Joe Biden’s South Carolina endorsements to more than 180, including the state’s last two Democratic governors, Jim Hodges and Richard “Dick” Riley; state lawmakers, mayors, community activists, pastors and faith leaders, and local elected officials. Biden’s diverse and broad coalition also consists of nearly 200 members of Educators for Biden and more than 100 members of Women for Biden from every region of the state.

Biden for President has previously announced more than 1,400 endorsements from national, state, and local leaders, including current and former U.S. senators and representatives, governors, state elected officials, community leaders, and national security professionals.

Bernie Sanders Announces Rallies in Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg and Columbia, South Carolina on February 26-28, 2020 ****Updated

Bernie Sanders Announces Rallies in Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg and Columbia, South Carolina on February 26-28, 2020 ****Updated

COLUMBIA - Bernie 2020 has added a rally in Charleston to Sen. Bernie Sanders' Election Week schedule in South Carolina as the campaign ramps up to the state's First-in-the-South Democratic Primary on February 29.

Added to a schedule that includes major rallies in Myrtle Beach and Columbia, this additional event further demonstrates the momentum the campaign is seeing in the Palmetto State.

The Bernie 2020 GOTV Rally in Columbia featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders on Friday, February 28, has moved from the South Carolina Statehouse to Columbia's Finlay Park.

In order to better accommodate this change, the rally's start time has been moved to 2:30 p.m.

COLUMBIA - In the final days before the First-in-the-South Democratic Primary, Bernie 2020 today announced two new events in South Carolina featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders.

On Friday, February 28, Sen. Sanders will join supporters at a Breakfast with Bernie at the Shady Grove United Methodist Church Family Life Center in St. George.

At 1:00 p.m., Sen. Sanders will rally volunteers at a canvass launch in Aiken before traveling to Columbia for the Bernie 2020 GOTV Rally at Finlay Park featuring acclaimed rapper, businessman and national campaign surrogate Michael "Killer Mike" Render.

COLUMBIA - Thursday's Bernie 2020 Spartanburg Get Out The Vote Event featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders has been moved to Wofford College's Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in order to accommodate larger than anticipated attendance.

Here is the updated itinerary:

Wednesday, February 26
UPDATE 11:30 a.m. Bernie 2020 Rally in North Charleston
Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston, SC
Information for the public: Doors will open at 10:00 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. https://events.berniesanders.com/event/245604/

3:00 p.m. Bernie 2020 Rally in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 2101 N Oak St, Myrtle Beach, SC
Information for the public: Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. https://www.mobilize.us/sanderssc/event/245210/

Thursday, February 27
UPDATE 7:30 p.m. Bernie 2020 Spartanburg GOTV Event
Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium, Wofford College, 601 Cummings St., Spartanburg, SC
Information for the public: Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entry is on a first come, first served basis.

Friday, February 28
UPDATED 10:30 a.m. Bernie 2020 Breakfast with Bernie in St. George
Shady Grove United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 9140 Charleston Hwy., St. George, SC
Information for the public: Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. https://events.berniesanders.com/event/251526/

UPDATED 1:00 p.m. Bernie 2020 Aiken Canvass Launch
Bernie 2020 Aiken Field Office Parking Lot, 665 Silver Bluff Rd., Aiken, SC
Information for the public: Doors will open at 12:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. https://events.berniesanders.com/event/251529/

UPDATE 2:30 p.m. Bernie 2020 GOTV Rally in Columbia
Finlay Park, 930 Laurel St., Columbia, SC
Information for the public: Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. https://www.mobilize.us/sanderssc/event/245214/

Pete Buttigieg For America Launches New TV Ad in South Carolina “Progress”

Pete For America Launches New TV Ad On the Choice South Carolina Faces Between Medicare for All Who Want It and Bernie Sanders’ Proposal That Would Force Millions of Americans Off Their Private Plans

Columbia, SC — Today, Pete For America released “Progress,” a new television ad that will run statewide starting tomorrow and highlights the key differences between Pete’s Medicare for All Who Want It plan, which will achieve universal coverage while protecting Americans’ choice to keep their private plans, and Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare For All” — which would force 150 million Americans off their current plans.

Sanders’ plan would also force 20 million seniors off of Medicare Advantage, while Pete’s plan offers a better way to lower costs and cover everyone. Medicare For All Who Want It will give everyone access to Medicare while allowing South Carolinians to keep their private insurance, including Medicare Advantage, if they want - providing a pathway to make real progress rather than polarizing or further dividing the country.

Watch “Progress”:

“Progress” is just the latest ad to highlight the key differences between Bernie Sanders’ Medicare For All and Medicare For All Who Want It. Yesterday, Pete For America began airing “Right Plan” — a new 60-second radio ad that contrasts Pete’s Medicare For All Who Want It plan with Bernie Sanders’ health care proposal. “Right Plan” also lays out Pete’s commitment to invest in health equity zones to specifically combat racial inequalities in our health care systems, increase the number of Black Americans in the health workforce, and root out racial bias in how patients are treated.

The new ads come amidst a surge of momentum for Buttigieg in the Palmetto State. Last week, Buttigieg received the endorsement of State Representative JA Moore and seven faith leaders from across the state. And in February alone, Pete For America knocked four times as many doors and made twice as many calls as the month before.

Pete For America now has 63 staff on the ground in South Carolina ahead of the primary.

“Progress” Transcript

On health care, there’s a choice.

Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare for All” would completely eliminate private insurance, forcing one hundred fifty MILLION Americans off their current plans – including twenty million seniors on Medicare Advantage.

Pete Buttigieg has a BETTER way to lower costs and cover everyone.

Medicare for All Who Want It.

Everyone gets access to Medicare, if they choose.

But if you LIKE your private plan, you can keep it.

Instead of polarization...PROGRESS.

Bernie Sanders 2020 Launches “Justice” TV Ad in South Carolina

Bernie Sanders 2020 Launches “Justice” TV Ad in South Carolina

COLUMBIA – Bernie 2020 today launched their second South Carolina television ad ahead of the state's February 29 primary.

The new ad, titled “Justice” and voiced by renowned actor and activist Danny Glover, focuses on criminal justice reform and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ long history fighting for equal justice for all as well as his plan to end police misconduct and cash bail, legalize marijuana and expunge past marijuana convictions.

Sanders has made criminal justice reform a cornerstone of his campaign, particularly in South Carolina, announcing his landmark Justice and Safety for All plan in Columbia’s historic Greenview neighborhood back in August.

The full ad, “Justice,” can be seen here and the transcript is below:

Our criminal justice system lets the crooks on Wall Street who destroyed our economy walk free, while 1 in 3 black men go to prison.

Bernie Sanders is fighting for justice and always has.

He’ll fix our broken justice system so that it works for everyone, not just the wealthy.

He’ll end police misconduct and cash bail,

legalize marijuana and expunge past convictions,

And invest in jobs and education instead of jails and incarceration.

I’m Bernie Sanders and I approve this message.